Officers from the Hobbs Police Department in New Mexico are investigating the death of a baby discovered in a restroom at Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 13, when hospital staff found the baby in the bathroom of a room where a 16-year-old patient was receiving treatment.
The teenager was accompanied by her mother at the time. Police have not released the identities of those involved, and have not said if anyone was arrested.
The baby’s body has been sent to Albuquerque for an autopsy by the Office of the Medical Investigator to determine the cause of death.
Earlier this year, there was a similar incident in a New Mexico hospital. Reports suggest 19-year-old Alexee Trevizo went to the hospital for back pain and later gave birth in a restroom. She placed the newborn in a trash bag, which was later found by a hospital custodian.
Although the autopsy listed the cause of death as homicide, Trevizo’s lawyer highlighted some inconsistencies in the account, suggesting the case might be more complex than initially perceived. A lawsuit was subsequently filed against the hospital for the wrongful death of the infant.
In another incident in 2022, 19-year-old Alexis Avila of New Mexico was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of leaving her newborn in a dumpster. The baby was rescued and is now under the care of family members.
